International, and just down the road

Companies embrace diverse work atmosphere

Aug. 30, 2012 4:08 PM

Kentaro Yamasaki and Tom Tanaka / Vivian Ashbaugh, Proud

Written by

Jeff Gill

Mayor Clifford L. Mason was born and raised in the Hebron area, and his day job as a fire chief is nearby.

As mayor of an Ohio village of just more than 2,000 residents, what you wouldn't expect is for his business card to be in English and Japanese.

But when you start to look at the companies that are building and growing around Hebron, along the 79|Seventy Advanced Materials Corridor, that choice makes a great deal of sense.

THK Manufacturing of America, with roots going back to the early 1970s in Tokyo, anchors the north edge of the village. On its eastern border, Ohio Metal Technologies is a close partner with Japanese-based auto manufacturers across the United States; and Sunfield Inc. presses, stamps and welds metal components for the domestic auto industry as well, with their parent company in Japan.

Just west of Hebron, in Etna, Accel Inc. develops "innovative packaging solutions" for companies like Limited Brands; it reported having 11 languages spoken in the facility, and as an employer, it offers support and resources in the workplace for those observant in a variety of religions.

Tom Madden, chief financial officer for the Hebron THK plant, explains that the strategic plan has changed dramatically in recent months, largely because of developments back in Japan.

"With the major earthquake and tsunami there, logistically, the company needed us to expand our product offerings regionally, into Mexico and Brazil," he says.

With the company's primary focus on linear motion guides and ball joints for industrial assembly lines, the growth of South American economies into more and bigger manufacturing fields opens up a significant regional opportunity for this Japan-based firm.

"Our strategic plan now emphasizes adaptability, and that creates new opportunities for the Hebron plant, which is much closer and has a more reliable set of connections to both North and South America," Madden says.

Licking County long has been seen as an ideally situated location for most of the eastern United States; the view from places like Japan shows it's also well-placed to serve much of this hemisphere.

You may see Japanese and possibly a few other languages on many Licking County mayors' business cards before this decade ends — in Hebron, it's already there.

About PROUD

Welcome to Proud, a publication celebrating Licking County's positive business climate, natural beauty and unique offerings for a smaller community. Inside, you will find the voices of local business leaders explaining why they’re proud to call Licking County home for their professional and personal lives.

Copies of the print magazine may be picked up at the Licking County Chamber of Commerce, 50 W. Locust St.